Spanish | German | Japanese | English Classes starting in January

Skill up your language and cultural skills today!
Our language coaches are certified or native teachers.
We challenge you to speak and have conversation in the language 50-70% of class time.

Skill up your foreign language conversation skills about various topics in small groups. Your certified, native-speaking language coach will challenge you to speak 50-70% of class time using a conversation guide. Weekly a.m. and p.m. class schedules available. Classes are small group 3-6 students per class, 1.5 hours per class, $15 per class.

Here is the Top 10 list of the travel wise items I am so glad I foresaw to have during my trip! These items kept me from being miserable, stressed, uncomfortable, lost and any other negative word you can imagine!

10. Allergy-free, healthy snacks and meal bars by Enjoy Life Foods®, Munk Pack®, GoGo squeeZe®, PROBAR®
9. Tech tools: Hands-free bluetooth headset by LG® and travel battery pack with dual capacity for more hours/charges than I need by BlackBerry®
8. Lightweight, spinner luggage especially my mini spinner boarding luggage by TravelPro®
7. Full-touch leather gloves by U|R Powered ®
6. New Windows Surface Pro 4 computer (compact, lightweight, all-performing) by Microsoft®
5. Warm, comfortable, practical yet stylish clothes, shoes, and layers for the weather conditions. In Japan, you absolutely cannot skimp on comfort, quality and durability due to all the walking outdoors in any weather condition and terrain. And you definitely can’t skimp on style amongst some of the most quality-driven, brand-conscious people of the world where appropriate attire is a expected! Cuddl Duds®-love them! I was layered everyday with warm, comfy layers that hug my body! Three pair of shoes max of one primary color scheme daily: Totes® rain and snow boots; Cole Haan® flat, ankle boots for business; and my faithful, everyday Tsubo® knee-high, flat boots with fleece lining!
4. Pocket WiFi by Telecomm Square Japan
3. Light-weight, stylish down coat Celsius Premium by Yoki Sport
2. Travelon® Bag Bungee™ luggage strap to secure two bags and more!
1. Attitude of preparing for anything and responding to everything as good, meaningful, valuable and part of the journey!

When work bites, when the pain stings, I simply remember a few of my favorite things about Japan and then I feel worse! Well, still adjusting back to USA life but it gives me something to look forward to next time in Japan.

President Trump A.K.A. ガチャン！”Gachan!” is the onomatopoeia for “a slamming noise such as hanging up the phone on someone.” ガチャン became my personal name reference and joke for Trump in Japan after the news on Feb 2, 2017 of President Trump hanging up the phone on Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. It was all over Japanese news channels. As a matter of fact, Trump was all over Japanese new channels and shows every day, repeatedly. I found this particular day quite amusing. Not the serious subject matter which lead to Trump’s actions, but the way in which Japanese media portrayed this story. ガチャン was displayed on the TV screen with animation like reading manga (Japanese comic book) or watching anime with sound effects appearing on the screen. It was quite amusing!

I choose to write this post simply to share the sentiments of the Japanese people about President Trump that I encountered. I think this is worthy of a blog post because EVERY person including CHILDREN that I encountered commented about President Trump within 5-10 minutes of our encounter. They expressed their disappointment, dismay, and concern about the future for the whole world. They asked me about my opinion and who I voted for. Trump has a very negative image in Japan–do a Yahoo Japan search for “President Trump” to see the dominant images.

One of my Japanese friends, Takuro, asked me to practice English with him. I would quiz him on Japanese onomatopoeia words in English. I would say the Japanese sound or word and he would guess the English. I said, “what is ガチャン！” He replied emphatically, “Trump!” Now, explain that! That became our personal, memorable and private joke!